Minds on.

Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.

Virginia Woolf

This is the did you know icon. Did You Know?

Many writers live interesting lives, the influence of which can be seen explicitly and/or implicitly in their work. Learn about some of them by watching the following.

As you reflect on your own growth as a writer, consider how your decisions and experiences have shaped the person you are as well as who you will become; consider, also, how these experiences will shape your own writing.

Writer’s Notebook

Now, think of one particular incident in your life thus far, and consider how it can be translated (implicitly or explicitly) into an innovative story - perhaps even a bestseller. Here’s an example to get you thinking: obtaining a driver’s license equips you with more freedom. From this experience you can craft a protagonist who attains autonomy and exercises the power to choose in some other aspect of her or his life. Write a minimum of one page for this short narrative (whether story, poem, script or essay) in your Writer’s Notebook. 

Throughout this course you will keep an electronic and/or paper notebook on you at all times (even by your bedside!). It will be helpful for ensuring you don’t forget a great idea, turn-of-phrase, character name, etc, and it will illustrate your growth as a writer too

Action.

Learning From Others

As you prepare to reflect on your own growth as a writer, watch the following video. According to the description at Ted.com, “[a]s different as we humans are from one another, we all age along the same great sequence, and the shared patterns of our lives pass into the pages of the books we love. In this moving talk, journalist Joshua Prager explores the stages of life through quotations from Norman Mailer, Joyce Carol Oates, William Trevor, and other great writers, set to visualizations by graphic designer Milton Glaser. “Books tell us who we've been, who we are, and who we will be, too,” Prager says.”

This is the discussion icon. Who are you?

After watching the video, do you agree with Prager’s argument that “books tell us who we’ve been, who we are, and who we will be”? Which quotation struck you the most? Why? 

Consolidation

This is the metacognitive icon. Metacognitive Moment

Now that this unit is complete, reflect on your growth as a writer by writing a two or three paragraph response. Your response should comment on the following questions.

  • What are your strengths as a writer?
  • As you move forward in the next unit of this course, what will be the focus for improving your writing?

Include examples from your works so far, as well as specific references to each activity. As a reminder, here are the activities you’ve completed in this unit:

  • Activity 1 - Conducting Considered Collaboration
  • Activity 2 - Prompting Passion
  • Activity 3 - Layering Language
  • Activity 4 - Planning Perspective’s Purpose
  • Activity 5 - Analysing and Acknowledging Authors
  • Activity 6 - Producing Productive Proofreading
  • Activity 7 - Preventing Pilfering, Piracy, and Plagiarism

Next, select one of your polished pieces from the unit and reread it. Now, in one or two paragraphs, explain what specific Writer's Toolbox skills are showcased in both your product and its creation. Make sure that you:

  • give an example of a creative choice you made, and how it improved the effectiveness of communicating your message; and
  • give an example of how your own beliefs, values, or experiences are revealed in your writing.

Alternately, you can choose to create a digital mind-map or a digital cartoon showcasing your skills growth.

Learning Skills Reflection

If you're working on a tablet, click here to open the following interactive in its own window instead of using the embedded version below.

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